Powerfully built Ridley, who stood over 6ft tall, admitted manslaughter and unlawful wounding. After he was arrested, police found testosterone used by body builders at his home. The defendant was told he could be freed after serving just half his sentence.

The couple were enjoying a rare night off together after Corporal Chacksfield had returned previous month from Afghanistan. Sergeant Chacksfield, described as a gentle giant, was on exercise in the North East and was allowed a night off to spend time with his wife.

Sgt Chacksfield looked after the couple's three-year-old Sofia while his wife was serving for four months at Camp Bastion.

Outside court, his 32-year-old widow said: "I am obviously disappointed in the sentence, on the other hand they caught somebody and he is behind bars. Although it doesn't seem fair, I believe he will get his comeuppance in the end. What goes around, comes around."

Wearing his wedding ring on a necklace, she said: "You could almost understand it if he had died on active service, but not on a night out."